The expression Irish community in Nantes refers to a significant group that emerged in the 17th century and played a crucial role in the 18th century. This community was primarily composed of Jacobite political refugees from Ireland who fled due to the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Over time, the Irish community extended its influence to the ports of Bordeaux and La Rochelle, as well as to the French colony of Saint-Domingue.
These refugees were largely aristocrats who, unable to bear arms or command troops, turned their focus to colonial trade. They established numerous trading companies, including several that were prominent in the Transatlantic slave trade. Additionally, they integrated fully into the city of Nantes, forming marriages with the local nobility. In Ireland, these refugees were often referred to as the Wild Geese by their critics.
Nantes became the leading port for the Irish trading fleet. By the mid-18th century, out of sixty Jacobite company headquarters and trading houses in Europe, two-thirds were located in four main ports: 12 in Nantes, 9 in Bordeaux, 8 in Cadiz, and about a dozen in Stockholm and Gothenburg, which primarily functioned as branch offices.
The Irish community in Nantes also comprised many priests, including Bishop Robert Barry of Cork, Bishop Cornelius O’Keefe of Limerick, and Bishop Patrick Comerford of Waterford. In 1695, the Bishop of Nantes allowed them to use his residence during the summer, the manoir de la Touche, which eventually became a seminary for Irish priests, remaining active until the French Revolution.
Finally, there were Irish individuals of more modest means who typically engaged in maritime commerce, taking on roles such as captains, pilots, coopers, and porters.
In southern France, the Quin's of Ireland were so well regarded that a street was named Rue O'Quin in honor of their contributions as good citizens.